Punctuation adds order, clarity, emphasis and timing to writing. Punctuation marks are the specific symbols used to punctuate writing.
Punctuation marks provide order and timing by separating and organizing thoughts. Punctuation provides clarity and emphasis by indicating whether something is a question, a statement, or an exclamation.
The marks we use for punctuation bring writing alive and help to make strings of words into comprehensible pieces of writing.
Learn best practices for using punctuation in your writing, then conveniently review your content for proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.
Punctuation provides essential clues and pacing for readers. Without punctuation marks, sentences, paragraphs, and full stories become just non-stop strings of words (like extended run-on sentences) that are difficult to understand.
Example of text without punctuation:
The man tried starting his car the engine wouldn’t turn over when the woman in coveralls with the bag of mechanics tools walked in front of the car he wanted to ask for help he didnt want to bother her though she seemed to be in a hurry however she saw him and noticed he needed help without being asked she stopped and took a look how did she know the man was relieved within minutes he was back on the road
A reader gets breathless just trying to make sense of that block of words. However, with the correct punctuation, the read is very smooth.
Example of text with punctuation:
The man tried starting his car. The engine wouldn’t turn over. When the woman in coveralls, with the bag of mechanic’s tools, walked in front of the car, he wanted to ask for help. He didn’t want to bother her, though; she seemed to be in a hurry. However, she saw him and noticed he needed help. Without being asked, she stopped and took a look. How did she know? The man was relieved! Within minutes, he was back on the road.
By adding a few punctuation marks — and following the rules that go with them — the lines of words turn into sentences, which turn into a story a reader can follow.
Marks of end punctuation, also called terminal punctuation, include:
Each of these three marks is placed at the end of a complete thought to indicate a stop. There are three different ones to signal three different types of complete sentences.
When end punctuation is used between two sentences, the next sentence must begin with a capital letter, no matter what type of end punctuation is used.
Examples of end punctuation and capitalization:
Only complete sentences (has a subject and verb and is a complete thought) get end punctuation.
Short exclamations, utterances, or commands use an exclamation point, even when not part of a complete sentence. Similarly, short questions or rhetorical phrases can use a question mark.
Examples of exclamations and rhetorical questions:
Some punctuation is used to create pauses, separate ideas, or set off information.
The most common of these punctuation marks are:
Commas (,) are separators; they also help create pauses in writing. Some punctuation uses for commas include:
Parentheses are used in writing to set off additional information within a sentence. While parenthetical information isn’t usually essential, it often provides helpful insight for a reader.
Examples of parentheses in a sentence:
Parentheses have specific uses with numbers, too.
Semicolons (;) are punctuation marks that break two complete sentences apart without adding a capital letter at the start of the second complete thought. They mark a briefer stop between sentences than a period does.
Example of a semicolon in a sentence:
Colons are punctuation marks that introduce, illustrate, and emphasize. Some of the ways that colons are used for punctuation include:
Dashes in writing enclose and separate information from the rest of a sentence. Dashes generally emphasize the words they enclose.
There are two types of dashes in punctuation:
The many uses of an em dash:
The rules for spacing around em dashes can vary by style guide.
For instance, the AP Style guide recommends spaces on either side of the em dash (as shown in the examples above), while the APA style guide does not use spaces. If you aren’t sure which formatting to use, refer to your organization’s style guide.
Hyphens (-) are the shortest dash-type punctuation mark. They are used to create compound words and to hyphenate compound modifiers preceding a noun to provide clarity. Hyphens have many uses, rules and exceptions. So many, in fact, that when wondering if a word needs hyphenation, it is best to consult a dictionary.
Apostrophes are in a punctuation class of their own. They don’t end sentences, separate information, or create pauses like so many other punctuation marks.
In grammar, an apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to indicate possession and to replace omitted letters, words, or numbers in contractions.
Examples of apostrophes:
Without proper punctuation, writing is difficult to read. The variety of punctuation marks helps a writer control the pacing, emphasis and delivery of the words on the page.
Review your content to make sure you are punctuating it correctly with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.
Then, learn more in our punctuation grammar series: